Rachel Bloom recently performed her latest live show in New York, hoping to recapture the spirit of 2019. This was the year her musical-comedy series, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” ended, and Bloom was preparing to hit the road. However, as we all know, 2020 had other plans.
Now that she finally had the opportunity to face a live audience again, Bloom wanted to treat the pandemic as a temporary interruption. She wanted to go back to her old material without the weight of trauma.
But some things can’t be easily brushed aside, even with the help of lively songs and jokes.
‘Death, Let Me Do My Show’ explores what Bloom was trying to avoid discussing on stage—the turmoil that disrupted her plans. (Spoiler alert: David Hull, a cast member from ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,’ plays one of the disruptive forces.)
In the spring of 2020, Bloom found herself in a chaotic and terrifying string of events that seemed straight out of a Hollywood movie—so dramatic and full of unbelievable coincidences that critics would question the screenwriter’s imagination.
During the early days of the pandemic, Bloom gave birth to her daughter. The baby faced health complications and was placed in intensive care. At the same time, Bloom’s close collaborator, musician Adam Schlesinger, was hospitalized with Covid-19 on the opposite coast.
Bloom’s child survived, but her friend did not.
These harrowing days form the heart of Bloom’s memoir, “I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are,” published in November 2020. They are also the central focus of her almost-one-woman show. From confusion to fear, regret to anger, and questioning her atheism, Bloom navigates through a rollercoaster of emotions. Through it all, she brings honesty and forthrightness, expertly combining comedy with raw honesty. Director Jerome Kurtenbach leads a three-piece backing band.
Directed by Seth Barrish, known for his collaborations with Mike Birbiglia, “Death, Let Me Do My Show” delves deep into self-examination, similar to Birbiglia’s work. Unlike recent solos by Kate Berlant and Liz Kingsman, which questioned the nature of narcissism, Bloom harks back to old-fashioned vaudeville entertainment. Despite starting her career on YouTube, she embraces both extroversion and vulnerability, drawing from her theater background. Throughout the show, she balances confidence with vulnerability, mixing earnest emotion with self-awareness.
The songs are a standout in the show. Bloom excels at infusing emotions with surreal details, injecting humor even in the most tender moments. For example, she sings a heartfelt lullaby while cradling a bottle of water wrapped in a towel. This absurdist approach not only garners laughs but also underscores the show’s underlying theme: the unpredictable and often harsh nature of life.
“Death, Let Me Do My Show” is playing at the Lucille Lortel Theater in Manhattan until September 30. For more information, visit rachelbloomshow.com. The running time is 1 hour and 25 minutes.
